RantCrush Top 5: May 9, 2017

The Nigerian militant group Boko Haram recently released dozens of the kidnapped schoolgirls who were abducted over three years ago. This is the biggest release of kidnapped girls since the abduction, when the Islamist group took 276 girls from their school. Many of the girls were forced to marry their kidnappers and carry children.

Nigeria’s conflict with Boko Haram has gone on for almost eight years–the terror group has killed civilians and burned down villages. On Sunday, the group handed over 82 girls in exchange for some detained Boko Haram members. The Nigerian government has been in lengthy negotiations over the past few months and said that it has made major progress against the group. The conflict has also received international attention, in large part thanks to Michelle Obama’s campaign #BringBackOurGirls.

Video shows 82 Chibok schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram after 3 years in captivity meet with Nigeria’s president. https://t.co/dElfLPf0jU pic.twitter.com/K804E3Y4Gb

— ABC News (@ABC) May 8, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.